Power restored to all snow-hit areas
Power has been restored to all areas in the high country of South Canterbury following a snow storm which closed roads and schools as it blanketed the Mackenzie and Waitaki basins on Thursday night.
Charlie Hobbs, owner of Southern Alps Guiding in the Mt Cook Village says the power coming back on meant everyone would ‘‘have a warm night’’.
‘‘It’s still quite cold here. It’s cooling down and there’s still a lot of snow around.
‘‘Luckily the businesses had back up generators to keep them going. Hopefully everyone has fireplaces in the village.’’
Alpine Energy said 113 customers were affected by the power outage that had spread across Balmoral, Braemar, Ferintosh, Glentanner, Godley Peaks, Haldon, Holbrook, Irishman’s Creek, Lilybank, Mt Cook, Mt Gerald, Mt Hay, Mt John, Rollesby, Sawdon, Simons Pass, Stoney Creek, Tasman Downs and Tekapo areas of South Canterbury.
Hobbs had earlier said driving conditions were not good and he wouldn’t recommend it, adding he hoped no tourists were out on the road.
‘‘There’s lots of snow, there’s at least 30cm here. It’s still snowing, not heavy but enough to keep us busy. It’s a very pretty sight, there’s lots of snow in the trees,’’ Hobbs said yesterday morning.
‘‘You may even say it’s a winter wonderland.’’
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has been urging caution on Mt Cook Rd (SH80) and while SH8 was open chains were essential.
However, MetService has issued a road snowfall warning for Lindis Pass section of SH8 from midday-9pm today.
‘‘A period of snow is expected during Saturday,’’ MetService said. ‘‘Expect 3cm6cm of snow to accumulate on the road above 800 metres, with lesser amounts to 600 metres.’’
Mt Cook Village resident Sharlene McKinlay said she had ‘‘snow insomnia’’ on Thursday, getting only about two hours sleep as it snowed through the night.
The village’s school principal Sandra Rolls said they had decided to close due to road safety, and she was in communication with the board chair to make the decision.
‘‘Although we would have made the decision any day of the term, children do get to start the holiday early.’’
Rolls, who lives in Twizel, said the snow was about the same height as June’s dumping.
‘‘But there is a bit of rain added to the snow, so we will see how further snow settles, but it is still snowing. We will see,’’ she said yesterday morning.
In Takapō/Tekapo, photographer George Empson, said the weather began clearing mid-morning after about 5cm of snow fell.
‘‘[It’s] very slushy wet stuff,’’ Empson said.
The snow fall had followed an orange level warning for the Canterbury High Country area south of the Rangitata River from MetService on Thursday for 2am-11am on Friday.
MetService forecast the largest snow accumulations above about 700m, especially about the Mackenzie Basin.
Of the South Canterbury townships, Mt Cook Village is 700m above sea level, Twizel 470m and Takapō /Tekapo 700m.
MetService meteorologist Angus
Hines said the snow level was expected to lift, and clear out of the lower areas yesterday.
However, Hines said further snow is expected today due to a southerly change in the wind.
Following the southerly change today, Hines said tomorrow is looking to be calm and dry for South Canterbury.
‘‘There will be some rain in the high country, but it will remain dry in the lower areas of South Canterbury.’’
Hines said Monday’s weather will start off on a good footing but warns of heavy rain on Tuesday coming in from the North Island.
‘‘It will depart on Wednesday.’’ Schools in Omarama and Twizel also closed yesterday with Mackenzie College at Fairlie open.
Mt Dobson Skifield was closed ‘‘due to blizzard like conditions’’.